League News: NHL Talk - (News n' Scores n' Stuff) | 2023-24 Regular Season Edition

[Hivemind]

Considering how long we were trash before we won it and how many "special" players seemed to make their way to Pitt (and not DC), I don't think it's comparable at all. The Canadian-centric NHL was happy to give us the Russian villain (and they played him up that way for a decade), while their hero was safely in Pitt...

This is some really little brother energy.

What "special" players making their way to Pitt? Mario Lemieux in 1984? Jagr was drafted 5th overall, so are you saying the NHL knew he would be the best in that class and, what, paid off the other teams to not take him? The only other 1st overall that Pitt had in that 21 year span between Lemieux and Crosby was MAF, and that came in a draft that also had Eric Staal, Patrice Bergeron, Ryan Getzlaf, and 13 other players (and counting) that hit the 1000GP+ mark. The Canadian-centric NHL loves a random rust belt city? If they were rigging it, wouldn't they do it for Toronto or Montreal? Or even an original six franchise (and much bigger media market) like Chicago, who also was terrible in that same stretch? If anyone gets to bitch, its Blackhawks fans for getting Cam Barker and Jack Skille in 2004 and 2005, respectively. If the whole thing was rigged for Pittsburgh, why wouldn't they give them Ovechkin AND Crosby?

 

[Devil Dancer]

There was a time when the Caps were a third tier franchise, but that's over. Ted appears to have solidified himself as one of the more powerful owners, and along with Ovie turned the Caps from a money pit into a generation-long revenue stream and marketing highlight. They've been a model franchise.

Why would the NHL discriminate against them now?

It's fun to bitch about Pittsburgh 's luck, but if the NHL really did play favorites the Caps are just as likely to benefit as Pitt.

 

[crab]

I don’t think they rigged the draft lottery for the Penguins to actually win but the rules for the lottery itself were very favourable to them when they shouldn’t have been. There is no logical reason the Capitals should have gone into that lottery with a lower chance than the Penguins to win the top pick.

 

[Calicaps]

I don’t think they rigged the draft lottery for the Penguins to actually win but the rules for the lottery itself were very favourable to them when they shouldn’t have been. There is no logical reason the Capitals should have gone into that lottery with a lower chance than the Penguins to win the top pick.

It's also notable that it was a 1-time thing and not a permanent rule change. Whether it was actually intended to advantage Pitt or not, the fact that the league is so unaware of the optics is just pitiful. Either way, it did advantage Pitt and means that getting Sid right after getting Malkin and Fleury was more than mere luck.

 

[RedRocking]

There was a time when the Caps were a third tier franchise, but that's over. Ted appears to have solidified himself as one of the more powerful owners, and along with Ovie turned the Caps from a money pit into a generation-long revenue stream and marketing highlight. They've been a model franchise.

Why would the NHL discriminate against them now?

It's fun to bitch about Pittsburgh 's luck, but if the NHL really did play favorites the Caps are just as likely to benefit as Pitt.

Yea, but all Pittsburgh has to do is threaten to move the team or whatever after Sid and Malkin retire. It worked for them before, and seemed to “work” for the Oilers for like a decade. That one time rule change for Pitt is still hella suspicious.

I don’t really believe in draft rigging, but it’s fun to indulge in at least one conspiracy theory, lol.

 

[Chokingdogs]

Yea, but all Pittsburgh has to do is threaten to move the team or whatever after Sid and Malkin retire. It worked for them before, and seemed to “work” for the Oilers for like a decade. That one time rule change for Pitt is still hella suspicious.

I don’t really believe in draft rigging, but it’s fun to indulge in at least one conspiracy theory, lol.

Yeah, Greedio owning the team, paying himself top dollar while shipping out any player worth anything, crying for a new building, threatening to move, etc etc. the whole scene stunk, then came bettmans “model franchise” comment.

Way too much smoke for any non bettguin fan to think there wasn’t back door shenanigans going on.

 

[Caps19842020]

Watching the Pens versus Anaheim game & seeing the ducks clear goal waved off for a BS goalie interference call & then awarding the Pens with a 5 on 3 right after is a utter joke!

 

[marcel snapshot]

That was a travesty. Refs engineered a 2 goal swing for the Pens

 

[usiel]

It's also notable that it was a 1-time thing and not a permanent rule change. Whether it was actually intended to advantage Pitt or not, the fact that the league is so unaware of the optics is just pitiful. Either way, it did advantage Pitt and means that getting Sid right after getting Malkin and Fleury was more than mere luck.

Oh yeah the one time thing. Just like the conservative supreme court saying to stop counting the ballots and give Bush Jr. the presidency but only one time only and no precedents being set.

 

[marcel snapshot]

Pens gifted a second 5 on 3 cuz the Ducks scrapped to tie it up again

 

[marcel snapshot]

And McTavish jumps out of the box and scores with 11 seconds to play for the Ducks win

Stupid Karlsson turnover started play

 

[Calicaps]

That Karlsson trade already looks like such a disaster. LOL

Is the Dubas honeymoon over yet?

 

[pman25]

At least the Pens top 10 protected that 1st rounder for Karlsson

 

[Misery74]

The Pens have emptied the tank to stay relevant. It looks to be backfiring.

Sullivan days numbered.

 

[BallardEra]

 

[Midnight Judges]

Excruciating loss for the Pens. lol. Ouch.

 

[usiel]

Probably the worst kind of regular season loss.

 

[Chokingdogs]

The triumphant return of the glowpuck?!

 

[zappa4ever]

Watched some chunks of the PIT ANA gm
went to do other stuff for an hour after Lars drew the Pen w 2min left
Returned to resume and see the unfortunate Puck Over Glass for the 1:45 5-on-3 figured that was it, PIT gets gifted a last minute W...

Sometimes the Hockey Gods shine and MacTavish was in perfect time to receive the breakaway

Many guffaws and belly laughs were had (by me), couldn't happen to a nicer team

 

[Silky mitts]

Probably the worst kind of regular season loss.

Semin did that to Carolina one time, scored twice in the last 3 minutes to take 2 points, put them in a funk for months

 

[trick9]

At least the Pens top 10 protected that 1st rounder for Karlsson

Protection is a one-off deal that helps you in case of disaster like injuries.

It doesn't really help if you are consistently bad. If their 2024 1st is a top-10 pick and they keep it, they give Sharks their unprotected 2025 1st. Which could just easily be a top-3 pick.

 

[Empty Goal Net]

Excruciating loss for the Pens. lol. Ouch.

. . . and imo even better it happened in front of their high-class home crowd.

 

[JohnCarlsaurus]

The world is a vampire, etc.

...set to drainnnn

 

[um]

All this bitching about the Pens lottery/drafting luck never made any sense to me.

Caps are one of the lucky teams, we've got the GOAT goalscorer!

 

[CapitalsCupReality]

All this bitching about the Pens lottery/drafting luck never made any sense to me.

Caps are one of the lucky teams, we've got the GOAT goalscorer!

My Marvel What-If sense wonders if we don’t win 6 Cups with Ovechkin AND Crosby….but that chance was pretty much stolen. I’m happy about the way things turned out, totally thankful, but we got jobbed. But I also don’t spend a millisecond EVER thinking about it until someone brings it up here.